SELECTED WORK IN PROGRESS

Quality Assurance and the Diffusion of Preventive Medical Technology: Evidence from Mammograms

Abstract: Does a more stringent quality regulatory regime facilitate or chill the diffusion of new technology? Theoretically, it can accelerate technology adoption by reducing asymmetric information and improving consumers' perceived quality. Yet, it may also trigger adverse selection in the market by increasing compliance costs and liability risk on the firms' end. To empirically answer this question, I assess the impact of state-level quality assurance (QA) programs on using mammography, an X-ray-based medical technology, to screen breast cancers. Preliminary evidence suggests the introduction of quality assurance programs increased the take-up rate of mammograms among women, especially those with relatively low educational attainment. To derive more evidence on the supply side, I am collecting establishment-level administrative data for healthcare facilities from the FDA.

Veterinary Care Regulation and Livestock Productivity: Evidence from State Licensing Laws, 1880-1930

Abstract: In this paper, I exploit the staggered adoption of state-level licensing requirements for veterinary care to study whether it affects the productivity of draft animals in the agricultural sectors. Combining data from the Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture, I document some preliminary findings that adopting the licensing law led to a significant increase in the density of draft animals (horses, mules, and cattle), proxied by the number of heads per acre, by 14%-19%. One potential mechanism is that these veterinary care regulations substantively increased the supply of (formal) veterinary services by 51% (measured as the number of agricultural veterinarians per 100,000 residents within a state). 

Financial Autonomy and Gender Entrepreneurial Gap: Evidence from H.R.5050

Summary: Does promoting financial autonomy for women (i.e., eliminating the requirement of having a male relative as their co-signer on business loans in prior state laws) encourage female entrepreneurship and reduce the gender entrepreneurial gap? I aim to leverage the passage of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (commonly known as H.R.5050) to provide some empirical evidence. At this stage, I am collecting historical policy data regarding male relative signatures in state laws.  

Plant Disease Epidemics and Agricultural Innovation: Evidence from the 1970 Southern Corn Leaf Blight

Summary: Do plant-specific diseases affect and re-direct agricultural innovation in breeding? I aim to leverage the 1970 Southern Corn Leaf Blight incident to compare agricultural innovation activities among corn and other crops. Preliminary evidence suggests that corn experienced a significant increase in patenting rates following the 1970 crisis relative to bean, cotton, potato, and wheat. 

Pest Outbreaks and Agricultural Innovation: Evidence from the Boll Weevil Plague

Summary: Do agricultural crises induced by pest outbreaks spur or hinder agricultural innovation? To what extent do such incidents re-direct the development of new agricultural technologies, thereby helping mitigate damages resulting from such crises? I am collecting historical patent files and applying text analysis to implement my empirical analysis.